They are urging people to report unusual bird deaths as fears grow over the spread of bird flu from Asia.

Experts are keeping a close eye on wildfowl, particularly ducks, to protect the country against the possibility that bird flu could come in via wild birds.

They are asking people who shoot wildfowl, scientists who study them, and members of the public, to report unusual deaths. The government says this would not apply to a sparrow in the garden, for example, but to wetland birds which fly off in large numbers.

The risk of a human flu pandemic linked to the bird flu outbreak is very high says the World Health Organisation.

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